Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Treat tourists as guests, says Kodiyeri

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Tourism and Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has stressed the need for developing a culture among the locals to properly behave with the tourists arriving in the State.

Launching “Tourism orientation programme for taxi drivers” organised by Kerala Tourism here on Tuesday, the Minister said the tourists who arrived in Kerala should be treated as guests and all sections should behave properly with them to ensure a comfortable stay. The Tourism Minister reminded the taxi drivers that they were the first point of contact for the tourists once they stepped out of the airports and railway stations. “It is your responsibility to behave properly with them as it creates an everlasting image about the people and Kerala.”

Of the 4.25 lakh foreign tourists who arrived in Kerala in 2006, one lakh came through Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

Mr. Balakrishnan said of them 21 per cent were from the U.K, nine per cent from the U.S, eight per cent from France and five per cent from Germany.

Mr. Balakrishnan distributed identity card to senior driver Sugathan Nair. V. Sivankutty, MLA, presided over the function. The former MP V.S. Sivakumar; Secretary, Kerala Tourism, V. Venu; KTDC Chairman Cherian Philip; Managing Director, KTDC, K.G. Mohanlal; Director, KITTS, V. Rajeevan, Additional Directors, Tourism, U.V. Jose and K.N. Satheesh were among those present.

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